[Adopted 11-14-1984]
Terms used in this article shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the language or context or unless such construction is inconsistent with the manifest intention of the Board of the Special Services District.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of the Putnam Police Department or, in his absence, the Lieutenant of the Putnam Police Department or the Chairman of the Putnam Special Services District Authority.
HIGHWAY
Any state or other public highway, road, street, avenue, alley, driveway, parkway or place under the control of the state or any political subdivision thereof, dedicated, appropriated or opened to public travel or other use.
PARKED VEHICLE
A motor vehicle in a stationary position within the limits of a public highway.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
The broadcasting by at least one radio station having a general listening audience within the District of the fact that a snow emergency has been declared in the District.
SNOW EMERGENCY
A period of time prior to, as forecast by the United States Weather Bureau, during or after a fall of snow, sleet or freezing rain, during which period vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic is expected to be hazardous or congested due to the elements, and during which period the parking of vehicles in the normal fashion could hinder, delay or obstruct the safe flow of such traffic and/or the proper cleaning, clearing and making safe of the public highways of the Putnam Special Services District.
VEHICLE
Any device suitable for the conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, whether operated on wheels, runners, or by any other means, except those propelled or drawn by human power or those used exclusively on tracks.
It is declared to be in the best interests of the public safety, convenience and welfare of the Putnam Special Services District to regulate and restrict the parking of vehicles on highways within the control and limits of said District, during a period of snow emergency, so as not to impede the transportation and movement of food, fuel, medical care, fire, health, police protection and other vital facilities of the District.
[Amended 2-13-1985]
A snow emergency shall be declared by the Chief of Police either before, during or after a fall of snow, sleet or freezing rain, when in his sound judgment and discretion the circumstances warrant the declaration of such an emergency in the interest of safety upon the highways of the District. The Chief of Police shall cause public announcement of such declaration of snow emergency, which will go into effect from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m. Such snow emergency shall be called each succeeding 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m. until the Chief of Police shall determine that such emergency no longer exists, either for portions of the District or the entire District, and shall make public announcement of same.
During the period of any declared snow emergency, it shall be a violation of this article to park a vehicle upon a highway within the District other than in the following manner:
A. 
Vehicles may park on such streets, provided there is a licensed driver behind the steering wheel, and provided such vehicle shall be moved from the streets upon the approach of machinery or of workmen engaged in the plowing or removal of snow from the streets.
In any prosecution, proceeding or other action hereunder, the registered owner of any vehicle shall prima facie be presumed to have been the operator who parked such vehicle in violation of this article.
[Amended 2-13-1985; 12-14-1993]
A. 
Any owner, operator, person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article shall be charged a fee of $10 for violation.
B. 
Any person guilty of a second offense in violation of this article shall be charged a fee of $25 for violation.
C. 
In the event a snow emergency has been declared by the Chief of Police before a fall of snow, sleet or freezing rain, and such weather does not materialize, no owner, operator, person, firm or corporation shall be charged with a violation.
[Amended 2-13-1985]
A. 
In addition to the foregoing penalty, any police officer of the District, by direction of the Chief of Police, upon discovering any such vehicle parked in a manner so as to hamper the clearing of snow from the streets of the Putnam Special Services District or the passage of snow removal machinery may remove or cause the same to be removed by a licensed towing firm, under the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-150(b). Whenever a police officer removes or causes the removal of a vehicle from a highway, as authorized by this article, he shall comply with the requirements of notification set forth in Section 14-150 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
B. 
Before the owner or person in charge of any vehicle is allowed to remove such vehicle from the place to which it has been towed and/or stored, he shall furnish evidence of his identity and ownership, sign a receipt for such vehicle and shall pay the fee for towing and charges for storage.